Payroll Specialist

Northbound Executive Search; New York (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Northbound Executive Search is assisting a well-known Financial Services firm in New York, NY, by identifying a Payroll Specialist to support its HR and accounting teams. The role covers end-to-end payroll processing, funding, and compliance, with exposure to 401(k), bonuses, RSU vesting, and benefits reporting.

You will collaborate with HR on projects, manage payroll systems like ADP and Workday, and participate in month-end and year-end closes, W-2 reporting, and data analysis.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of payroll experience required.
• Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-changing environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Experience with ADP and Workday is preferred or quickly learnable.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing (semi-monthly and bi-weekly) for accuracy and timely submission.
• Prepare and reconcile payroll funding, 401(k) contributions, annual bonus, and RSU vesting entries.
• Maintain salary expense and time allocation reports; process time and attendance data and integrate with payroll systems.
• Support month-end and year-end close activities and W-2 reporting.
• Partner with HR on payroll projects, garnishments, and employee inquiries.
• Administer payroll systems (e.g., ADP, Workday) and perform ad hoc reporting and process improvements.
• Leverage PEO relationships as needed.

Skills

Payroll experience

Interpersonal communication

Work under pressure

Excel

Word

Tools

ADP

Workday

Job description

Our client, a well-known Financial Services firm in New York, NY, is looking for a Payroll Specialist to join it's HR/Accounting team!

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing (semi-monthly and bi-weekly), ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely submission for HR and CFO approval


• Prepare and reconcile payroll funding, 401(k) contributions, annual bonus, and restricted stock vesting entries


• Maintain salary expense and time allocation reports; process time and attendance data through Constructive and integrate with payroll


• Support month-end and year-end close activities, including W-2/W-2c and taxable fringe reporting


• Partner with HR (Insperity) on payroll projects, allocations, garnishments, and employee inquiries


• Administer payroll systems (e.g., ADP, Workday) and assist with ad hoc analysis, reporting, and process improvements


• PEO experience

Qualifications

• 2+ years payroll experience


• Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communications skills requires


• Ability to work effectively under pressure in a rapidly changing environment required


• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word


• Experience with (or ability to quickly learn) ADP and Workday